Contents
THE SPURNED SUITOR
Overview
Quentyn Martell defies Ser Barristan’s warning and seeks a clandestine parley with the Windblown. He offers to hire the company for Dorne and reveals his goal: steal a dragon. The Tattered Prince rejects promises and demands Pentos as payment, exposing Quentyn’s desperation and raising near-impossible stakes.
Summary
Near the “hour of ghosts,” Ser Gerris Drinkwater returns to report contact with Windblown agents Beans, Books, and Old Bill Bone. Despite Gerris urging flight per Barristan Selmy’s warning, Quentyn Martell insists on staying to fulfill his duty to Dorne and give meaning to his companions’ deaths. Denzo D’han arranges a sunset meeting at the Purple Lotus.
On the way, Quentyn, Gerris, and Ser Archibald Yronwood debate the city’s unrest, Hizdahr’s contested standing, and the danger of trusting sellswords they deceived. Quentyn clings to lineage and destiny, arguing the dragons are the means to Dorne’s aims, while his friends doubt the wisdom of his plan.
At the Purple Lotus, an old woman, Zahrina, guides them to an undercellar where the Windblown leaders await: the Tattered Prince, Pretty Meris with a crossbow, Caggo Corpsekiller, and Denzo D’han. The Tattered Prince needles them over their desertion and imprisoned Windblown comrades, questioning Quentyn’s honor and capacity to pay.
Quentyn offers to hire the Windblown for Dorne at double Yunkai’s wages, payable partly in Volantis and the rest in Sunspear via banking papers and promises of Dornish honor. The Tattered Prince scoffs at deferred payment and presses for specifics, surveying the fractured Yunkish command and Meereen’s volatile peace to underscore the market for swords.
Quentyn finally reveals his aim: he needs the Windblown to help him steal a dragon. The sellswords react with dark amusement. The Tattered Prince rejects mere “double” as insufficient for dragons and sets his price—Pentos—leaving Quentyn facing an exorbitant, likely impossible demand.
Who Appears
- Quentyn MartellDetermined Dornish prince; seeks Windblown aid to steal a dragon, offering future payment and invoking duty to Dorne.
- The Tattered PrinceLeader of the Windblown; mocks Quentyn’s promises and demands Pentos as the price for aiding a dragon theft.
- Ser Gerris DrinkwaterQuentyn’s companion; arranges contact with Windblown and urges abandoning the plan as reckless.
- Ser Archibald YronwoodQuentyn’s formidable ally; provides muscle and grim humor, skeptical of Meereen’s peace and Hizdahr.
- Pretty MerisWindblown lieutenant; armed with a crossbow, scornful of Quentyn, joins in pressing their advantage.
- Caggo CorpsekillerWindblown killer; observes the parley with weapon ready, amused by the dragon-stealing plan.
- Denzo D’hanWindblown ‘warrior poet’; arranges the meeting and guards the door during negotiations.
- ZahrinaOwner of the Purple Lotus; guides the Dornishmen to the undercellar meeting.
- BeansWindblown scout; contacted by Gerris to deliver the parley message.
- BooksWindblown scout; present with Beans when Gerris makes contact.
- Old Bill BoneWindblown man; with Beans and Books when Gerris approaches them.